I don't think the conditions were really changed much until about the 70th minute, when the ball started to catch more snow and slow down. Really, before that, the field was white but hardly anyone was slipping and the ball was rolling true.

Will be interesting to see how they line up without Jermaine Jones tomorrow. The easiest thing to do would be to push Bradley forward into that role and slide in Edu in front of the back four. But Klinsmann will probably find a way to get Beckerman on the field to the detriment of my patience and calm demeanor.

jmh470 wrote:I suppose it's easier to say now than 24hrs ago, but I want Clint Dempsey leading the US from here on, irrespective of whether the monk returns from his laughable "sabbatical." This guy breaks his back every time he steps onto the field for the US, unlike a certain someone whose mental game was/is infinitely inferior to his physical one.

Bocanegra and Donovan might be useful next summer. Dempsey will be critical.

I like Dempsey's demeanor as captain.

I think you're being very harsh on Donovan given what he's done, the big goals he's scored in the Gold Cups, world cup qualifying and the cup itself. Fact is, they need this guy.

I kind of agree with the Costa Ricans that the field wasn't fit to play on, but there are other factors too. If they delayed the game until the next day, there's no guarantee the weather would have been better. Also, the US and Costa Rica both had to travel to play games on Tuesday. Those Tuesday games would be even tougher with less time in between. Once it got to the 2nd half, it probably was the best decision to just push through and get it done with.

As for the Mexico game, I would probably bring in Edu for Jones, even Edu for Goodson, and then Beckerman for Jones. I worry about Goodson's lack of pace against the Mexicans, who (presumably) won't have snow to slow them down. Edu played centerback in the friendly win in Azteca in August. I don't mind Beckerman for what he is. I think he knows his role (sitting in front of the back four and clogging the middle of the field) and does it reasonably well without getting sucked too far up field. Sometimes I think Jones fancies himself to be more offensively gifted than he really is and gets caught trying to make overly clever passes or gallivanting around the other team's penalty area.

jmh470 wrote:I suppose it's easier to say now than 24hrs ago, but I want Clint Dempsey leading the US from here on, irrespective of whether the monk returns from his laughable "sabbatical." This guy breaks his back every time he steps onto the field for the US, unlike a certain someone whose mental game was/is infinitely inferior to his physical one.

Bocanegra and Donovan might be useful next summer. Dempsey will be critical.

I like Dempsey's demeanor as captain.

I think you're being very harsh on Donovan given what he's done, the big goals he's scored in the Gold Cups, world cup qualifying and the cup itself. Fact is, they need this guy.

I agree with pfim here. I think Dempsey is a good pick for captain, and I don't quite understand Donovan's attitude (I feel really guilty missing one of my over-30 Sunday league games because I know my team usually is hurting for players). However, Donovan pretty much single-handedly willed the US into the 2nd round in the 2010 World Cup. There's obviously the Algeria goal, but he also started the Slovenia comeback by almost taking off the keeper's head with that bad-angle shot. The US sorely needs the pace, skill, and bravado on the outside that he can bring when he's tuned-in. Not saying he should be made captain when/if he comes back, but they should welcome him back with open arms.

Heard a rumor that Kljestan is likely to start today. He and Bradley were in the middle in our home qualifier against Mexico in 2009 and did an outstanding job. I like it. I'm expecting this to be a more open game that what we're used to at Azteca.

GaryRissling wrote:Heard a rumor that Kljestan is likely to start today. He and Bradley were in the middle in our home qualifier against Mexico in 2009 and did an outstanding job. I like it. I'm expecting this to be a more open game that what we're used to at Azteca.

Seems to jive with what Klinsmann suggested, that there won't be big changes.

Hopefully Zusi can produce better quality without the snow. This will also be a big test for the makeshift back four.

I thought it was a mistake for Mexico to play our August friendly at Azteca. Had they won, they would have gained nothing; but a loss would diminish the mystique/intimidation of the stadium. It may not mean much, but long streaks such as this (or the Blackhawks, or Chelsea's home streak under Mourinho) put a healthy pressure on the team and make them a little sharper IMO. Once a long streak ends, the team usually deflates a bit.